Legendary Commentator, Derek Rae…

Derek Rae is the voice of FIFA 22 and a legendary commentator of the beautiful game. He joins Super Kevin Campbell and Sophie Nicolaou to talk about some of the biggest matches he has had the honour to call.

From the Premier League, to Bundesliga, the Champions League, Euros and World Cup, Derek has covered some of the best talent in the history of football. You will not want to miss his epic stories.

When Mourinho Was Nice To Wenger…

Jose Mourinho talks Arsene Wenger, transfers and Premier League rivalry. It’s too quick to put the kettle on, so just have a shot of your favourite beverage instead! Football, soccer, call it what you want, it’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

Don’t forget to check out @goonerramble and the Gooner Ramble Girls podcast. Women talking all things Gunners. Doesn’t get much better than that…does it?!

A Bergkamp Wonderland

Had an absolute blast chatting with the lads on A Bergkamp Wonderland. We got stuck into the good, the bad and the ugly. Should Wenger stay or go? Is Stan Kroenke the right owner for Arsenal? Why do the Gunners collapse mentally when they concede a goal? What is the best midfield option? What’s happened to Mesut Ozil? And should the club keep Mesut Ozil? Tune in and have a listen. You’ll need some type of beverage and snack. It’s a magical 2 hours of pure football heaven. You can follow the boys here @jasondavies71 @PR_WhoRu GeoffArsenal The_GFP!

Brazil Legend Carlos Alberto

3102

One of my favourite interviews ever. Brazil legend and World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto is so candid with his opinions on the beautiful game. From Messi and Ronaldo, to Neymar and the current Brazil squad, he didn’t hold back with his thoughts. It was a dream to get to speak to him. Another legend gone.

http://talksport.com/radio/extra-time/130425/carlos-alberto-brazils-world-cup-chances-their-premier-league-stars-and-196344

Arsenal v Monaco Soundbite…

giroudThis could be a trap game for Arsenal. It has been a good few years since they have been favoured in a Round 16 Champions League game.

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla are the key to success. Arsenal will also need their chosen goalkeeper to be in fine form at the Emirates!

Here is a wee soundbite from my chat with Talksport last week. C’mon Arsenal!

 

The End of Act One…

co_1743[1] Act One of the new season in Spain is over and Sophie and Ben return to dissect the action so far, as Barcelona begin with a perfect record under ‘Tata’ Martino.

Atlético are hot on their heels with eight wins of their own and Real Madrid follow five points behind – albeit with some teething problems in their post-Mourinho project.

We take a look at how Barça have coped without Messi, how Madrid can improve in the lead-up to the Clásico, the difficult start to life in La Liga for Gareth Bale, plus Atlético and how the third team in Spain are looking to challenge under Diego Simeone.

Join us for all that and much more in La Liga Lounge!

The One After the Summer…

gareth-bale-real-madrid_4[1] The summer has gone and with it the transfer window is now a thing of the past too – at least until January.

Gareth Bale is finally a Real Madrid player, La Liga is underway again and Barcelona have a new coach – although not the centre-back they so badly needed. Sophie and Ben return to discuss all of that and more on the latest La Liga Lounge.

The One After the Summer. Tune in and join us as we catch up on all the stories.
We’re back in the Lounge for our laid-back look at the game in Spain…

The One with the Spanish Inquisition…

The_Spanish_Inquisition_by_lyonlamb You didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition?

Ben and Sophie return to the Lounge to discuss where it all went wrong for Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Champions League this week.

Was Messi selfish to start? Who is helping Ronaldo? Is it time these teams looked beyond their individual icons in favour of collective choreography? Did Mourinho mess up? Why didn’t Tito react? Is a miracle comeback possible for either side? Just where do they go from here?

Let’s credit Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund for their beautiful performances. They certainly shocked Spanish football to its core and have started a debate about the rise of German football. Is it premature? Is everyone getting carried away with their claims that Spanish football is dead?

Sophie and Ben discuss it all in La Liga Lounge. And if you agree or disagree with any of their opinions, let them have it volley style @LaLigaLounge. It’s always happy hour here.

Verbal Memo | The Bite, the Bale & the Special One…

1931Dracula There’s no biting in football…unless you are Luis Suarez of course! Liverpool’s star player is in hot water once again and the biggest question is what will this legendary and historical club do with him?

Unless you’ve been living under a gigantic rock, Suarez took a healthy bite out of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a game at Anfield over the weekend. It’s not the first time Suarez has done this to an opponent. In April 2011 while playing for Ajax, he sunk his teeth into PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal. He received a seven-match ban and it was the last time he ever played for Ajax, a club with as much rich football history as Liverpool. This is unacceptable behaviour from a player who doesn’t even need to act like Mike Tyson on the football pitch.

Suarez is undoubtedly one of the best players in Europe, let alone the Premier League. His continual bad decision making however leads you to believe he is definitely a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. Where do Liverpool go from here? They will probably support him because without his thirty goals this season, they’d be languishing below mid-table and Brendan Rodgers would probably be standing in the football unemployment line.

In this week’s verbal memo you can also catch soundbites about Tottenham, Jose Mourinho and there’s even a mention about my chat with Brazil football legend Carlos Alberto. There will be more of that interview posted in the coming days.

Sit back. Relax. Rant. Rave. If you agree or disagree with anything you hear, lob me @soccerdiva and let me have it.

The One With the Quarter Finals…

La Liga Lounge returns with a Champions League special after this week’s first leg matches in the quarter-finals.

As the competition reaches its business end, Sophie and Ben discuss Barcelona’s depleted defence (who will partner Piqué?), Messi’s mini-absence, disagree on Víctor Valdés and question whether the Catalans have a mental issue late in games.

The Lounge bar staff also talk Madrid and how it’s all coming together for Mourinho, Casillas vs Diego López, the strikers and how this could be their year. We also chat Cristiano Ronaldo, look at his amazing stats and those of Messi, remember Ronaldinho, weigh up Neymar and big up Málaga, probably the story of this Champions League campaign. Will we see them back next year?

And the show wouldn’t be complete without predictions, some banter, fun, info, insight and interaction. From Sophie in LA and Ben in Barcelona, to you the world: This is La Liga Lounge…The One with the Champions League Quarters. Join us! It’s always happy hour here.